Less than 60 percent of new students graduate from the nation’s four-year colleges and universities within six years, according to a new study, and the rate is even lower at most of the historically Black and Hispanic-serving institutions included in the study.
Within similarly classified schools, graduation rates varied vastly. The researchers contend these schools are admitting students with similar levels of preparedness and suggest that the practices of the schools themselves factor prominently in student success.
According to the report, noncompetitive institutions graduate, on average, 35 percent of their students, while competitive institutions graduate 88 percent. Less competitive and competitive schools do better than noncompetitive institutions, but the average graduation rate is less than 50 percent. The higher graduation rates among competitive schools is to be expected because they’re admitting highly talented students.
However, it’s important for prospective students and parents to be aware of the disparities among similar schools when picking a school, researchers say. President Obama’s stated goal of improving completion rates warrants a look at what schools need to do a better job of graduating their students, they add.
“We do not encourage schools to give out degrees indiscriminately,” said Mark Schneider, a scholar at AEI. “[The graduation crisis] should be part of the decision making process.”
Disparities in graduation rates noted by researchers include the University of Louisville in Kentucky and James Madison University in Virginia, both very competitive state schools that charge about $7,000 in tuition. While Louisville only graduates 44 percent of its students in six years, James Madison graduates 81 percent.
